PORTLAND — Somehow, improbably, maybe impossibly, Scarborough High is moving on in the Western Class A girls basketball tournament.

The second-ranked Red Storm, struggling with their shooting all game, relied on defense and foul shooting in the fourth quarter to surge past No. 7 Cheverus 39-35 at the Portland Expo, a win that left Scarborough Coach Tom Maines choked up and teary-eyed afterward.

Additional Photos

Brooke Flaherty, left, of Cheverus battles for a rebound against Scarborough's Carly Rogers, center, and Courtney Alofs during their Western Class A girls' basketball quarterfinal at the Portland Expo. Third-seeded Scarborough made a late charge to pull out a 39-35 win. John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Mary Redmond of Scarborough drives past Cheverus defenders during the Red Storm’s Western Class A quarterfinal win. John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Mikayla Mayberry of Cheverus draws a foul while driving into the lane against Carly Rogers of Scarborough. John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Trailing 29-19 entering the final eight minutes, Scarborough forced 14 Cheverus turnovers with a whirling full-court press that trapped the ball wherever it went. Maria Philbrick, scoreless in the first three quarters, had eight points in the fourth, and Carly Rogers scored nine of her 19 as the two connected on 11 of 13 foul shots.

“Great heart, great defensive presence, getting in the passing lanes and making them do things they didn’t want to do,” said Maines, in his 39th year as a head coach in Maine, but first with a girls’ team. “I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve never been more proud of my kids than these.”

Scarborough (18-1) will play third-ranked Marshwood, an overtime winner over Thornton Academy, in the regional semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Scarborough scored the game’s first five points, but the Stags soon took the lead with great defense of their own and strong guard play. With Georgia Ford hitting two 3-pointers in the quarter and Alexandra Palazzi-Leahy hitting another, Cheverus led 15-7 after one.

From then on it was a battle of the defenses, with Cheverus holding Scarborough to just three points in the third quarter to take a 10-point lead into the fourth.

Cheverus, however, did not score a field goal in the fourth quarter.

“Their pressure was very good and forced us to turn the ball over,” said Cheverus Coach Richie Ashley. “I think it was more due to their execution rather than our lack of execution.

“The girls have nothing to hang their heads on. That’s a 17-1 team that beat them. They did themselves proud, their families proud, their school proud.

“I have no problem with their effort. It’s just a bitter pill to swallow now.”

The Stags held a 35-30 lead with 3:05 left after Brooke Flaherty made the first of two foul shots. Rogers cut it to 35-31 with a foul shot one second later — she was fouled getting a rebound of Flaherty’s missed second free throw.

Then Philbrick, who attacked the Cheverus defense in the fourth, made it 35-33 with two foul shots with 2:37 left.

“I just knew I had to be more aggressive in the fourth,” Philbrick said. “I was a little nervous, but we never gave up.”

After a Cheverus turnover, Rogers tied it with two foul shots with 1:27 remaining. Then Rogers stole the ball on the press and Scarborough pulled the ball out, looking for an opening in Cheverus’ defense.

When it came, Taylor Leborgne dribbled into the lane to draw two defenders, then bounced a pass to Rogers cutting to the basket. She scored with 34.4 seconds left, and the Red Storm had the lead, 37-35.

“We had been trying that all game long,” said Rogers. “I finally stepped in there and got the pass.”

Mary Redmond rebounded a Cheverus miss and was fouled, then made both foul shots with 9.7 seconds left to seal it.

“Unexpected win,” said Maines. “Cheverus had an exceptional game plan and executed it. We made adjustments in the second half.”

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:
mlowe@pressherald.com
Twitter: MikeLowePPH

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